The Skipstone Family is working to help a family in need this Christmas. We were given the family's information from one of the local public schools as a family who is truly in need of assistance. I have spoken to the mom myself and she is so appreciative of anything we can do to help. She is a single mom with four children.
Stuff We Still Need In Red...
#1 Keiley (1 year old girl)
Wish List:
Toys - Buckalew Family, Tanner & Nick Sims' Family
Blanket - Buckalew Family
#2 Drakel (11 year old boy)
Wish List:
Football - Coker Family
Basketball - Coker Family
Bike - Slaughter Family
Nintendo DS -
School supplies - Coker Family
Backpack - Tanner & Nick Sims' Family
Winter coat (boy's large) - Coker Family
Shirt size: boys medium -
Pants size: 12 -
Shoe size: 5.5 -
Stocking - Skipstone Middle Schoolers
#3 Jadarrius (13 year old boy)
Wish List:
Roller blades (size 8) -
Gift cards - Moody's (Walmart - $20)
Graphing calculator - Kate Fisher's Family
Basketball - Tanner & Nick Sims' Family
School supplies - Moody's
Backpack - Sara Reeves' Family
Winter coat (men's large) -
Shirt size: men's medium tall -
Pants size: 31/32 -
Shoes: 7.5 -
Stocking - Skipstone Middle Schoolers
#4 Shaquania (17 year old girl)
Wish List:
Walmart Giftcard - Tanner & Nick Sims Family ($30), Moody's
Target Giftcard -
Stereo - Hunter Leverett's Family
Backpack - Sara Reeves' Family
School Supplies - Moody's
Stocking: Skipstone Middle Schoolers
Mom -
Stocking - Sara Reeves' Family
Groceries -
Giftcards - Tanner & Nick Sims Family ($100-Walmart), Sara Reeves' Family ($30-Kroger)
Giftbag - Hunter Leverett's Family
All Kids
Fooseball Table - Brayden Williams Family
Other age appropriate toys, etc would be great too. Just text me or email me...
Text me or email me if you would like to purchase one or more of these items so we can try not to duplicate and make sure we are able to make their Christmas be amazing! shondimoody@bellsouth.net or 678-588-8282
We will be delivering the gifts next Thursday (23rd) or Friday (24th).
If you would like to help the family financially (rent and electric), please let me know also.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Skipstone's Camp Joy Scholarship Fund
Give the gift of CAMP top a deserving child by giving a gift of $25 to Skipstone's Camp Joy Scholarship Fund. We are looking for 1000 people to donate $25 each so we can raise the $25,000 needed to host 100+ underprivileged children for Camp Joy next summer at Skipstone. We work with DFACS as well as local churches to invite kids that might not ever have the opportunity to experience a life-changing week of camp. We need to send out our invitiations to campers in mid-January and this has been our toughest year ever to raise the needed money. PLEASE help us by clicking on the DONATE button to donate securely through PayPal or mail your $25 gift to Skipstone, 600 Baptist Camp Road, Griffin, GA 30223
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
It Feels Like A Ferris Wheel
It never ceases to amaze me how far the pendulum of emotions can swing in just the course of a day. Yesterday was one of those days when the pendulum felt more like a ferris wheel, rolling through a range of emotions in what seemed to be an endless cycle.
At the top of the day I felt anticipation about what was ahead. As morning turned to mid-day I found myself becoming anxious about all that was yet to be accomplished. I felt frustration from a sore back and a bit of anger as my chiropractor attempted to "adjust" me :|. I felt sadness when I spoke with a friend who is losing a business in which his whole life is invested.
As the day faded into evening, I felt apprehension as I drove the bus (it's a BIG responsibility and a BIG bus!) full of Skipstone basketball players to Loganville for a game. I felt compassion as one of our Skipstone parents faced a family crisis and asked to be dropped off to minister to his family. I felt empathy and regret as Shondi shared an email with me from a parent who was upset that we had not ministered to their family in the loss of a loved one (which we weren't aware of). I felt joy as I watched our kids (both our natural and "adopted" ones) take the court. I felt anger when I saw our kids subjected to unsportsmanlike play. I felt rage when it became apparent that the officials were not going to call a fair game. I felt pride as our Skipstone kids took the high road and "fleshed out" Matthew 7:12 (do unto others) instead of surrendering to the flesh (kids are awesome teachers aren't they?).
As we loaded up to head home, I felt joy as I read a post on Facebook from a Skipstone mom who was thankful for the ministry she received from the school during a recent illness. I felt excitement as our leadership team finalized plans for an upcoming fundraising event. I felt disillusionment as Shondi fielded a call from a parent who was facing a situation with their child that is a parent's worst nightmare.
As we neared home, the cycle started again. I felt anticipation when I learned that a new student was coming to Skipstone. I felt anxious for rest as my body grew tired from the day. I felt.......
Sometimes I think we forget the incredible opportunities that we encounter every day to minister to people. It's easy to get so wrapped up in our own little world that we hardly notice what is happening in anyone else's life. Shame on us for devoting so much of our energy to OURSELVES!
I know that if I'm riding this "ferris wheel" every day, then every person I encounter is riding it as well. What an awesome opportunity to serve and minister to people, not from some elevated "super saint" position, but from a fellow brother who was just sitting in that "seat" a few minutes ago and knows "the feeling".
The longer I live the more I'm convinced that most Christians care far more about "doing" than "being". While there is nothing wrong with "doing" something for God, it pales in comparison to "being" like Jesus. We can "do" something for God without "being" like Jesus, but if we choose to make "being like Jesus" the priority of our lives, the "doing" just comes as a natural result. It's the difference between impacting and just surviving. It's not a choice of good or bad, but a choice of good or best... I want God's BEST for my life!
So what does "being like Jesus" look like in our everyday lives? I think this passage from I John 3:18 sums it up pretty well..... "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
Wanna change your world? STOP talking and START walking!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
At the top of the day I felt anticipation about what was ahead. As morning turned to mid-day I found myself becoming anxious about all that was yet to be accomplished. I felt frustration from a sore back and a bit of anger as my chiropractor attempted to "adjust" me :|. I felt sadness when I spoke with a friend who is losing a business in which his whole life is invested.
As the day faded into evening, I felt apprehension as I drove the bus (it's a BIG responsibility and a BIG bus!) full of Skipstone basketball players to Loganville for a game. I felt compassion as one of our Skipstone parents faced a family crisis and asked to be dropped off to minister to his family. I felt empathy and regret as Shondi shared an email with me from a parent who was upset that we had not ministered to their family in the loss of a loved one (which we weren't aware of). I felt joy as I watched our kids (both our natural and "adopted" ones) take the court. I felt anger when I saw our kids subjected to unsportsmanlike play. I felt rage when it became apparent that the officials were not going to call a fair game. I felt pride as our Skipstone kids took the high road and "fleshed out" Matthew 7:12 (do unto others) instead of surrendering to the flesh (kids are awesome teachers aren't they?).
As we loaded up to head home, I felt joy as I read a post on Facebook from a Skipstone mom who was thankful for the ministry she received from the school during a recent illness. I felt excitement as our leadership team finalized plans for an upcoming fundraising event. I felt disillusionment as Shondi fielded a call from a parent who was facing a situation with their child that is a parent's worst nightmare.
As we neared home, the cycle started again. I felt anticipation when I learned that a new student was coming to Skipstone. I felt anxious for rest as my body grew tired from the day. I felt.......
Sometimes I think we forget the incredible opportunities that we encounter every day to minister to people. It's easy to get so wrapped up in our own little world that we hardly notice what is happening in anyone else's life. Shame on us for devoting so much of our energy to OURSELVES!
I know that if I'm riding this "ferris wheel" every day, then every person I encounter is riding it as well. What an awesome opportunity to serve and minister to people, not from some elevated "super saint" position, but from a fellow brother who was just sitting in that "seat" a few minutes ago and knows "the feeling".
The longer I live the more I'm convinced that most Christians care far more about "doing" than "being". While there is nothing wrong with "doing" something for God, it pales in comparison to "being" like Jesus. We can "do" something for God without "being" like Jesus, but if we choose to make "being like Jesus" the priority of our lives, the "doing" just comes as a natural result. It's the difference between impacting and just surviving. It's not a choice of good or bad, but a choice of good or best... I want God's BEST for my life!
So what does "being like Jesus" look like in our everyday lives? I think this passage from I John 3:18 sums it up pretty well..... "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
Wanna change your world? STOP talking and START walking!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
Monday, January 25, 2010
UFOs and Alien Encounters
I am blessed to have so many people in my life who continue challenging me to stay close and clean in my walk with Jesus. Shondi, our children, the staff at Skipstone, my close friends, and my spiritual heroes all play a role in my spiritual development. I honestly can't imagine (and wouldn't want to) how different my walk might be if I wasn't sharing the journey with those that love me.
In recent weeks, God has allowed some things to pop up on my spiritual radar that have been the equivalent of a "UFO" experience for me. I know.... it makes me just as nervous to write that as it makes you to read it. I'm not going off the deep end (I hope) and I haven't seen a UFO, but I am stunned, shaken up, perplexed, and honestly a little apprehensive (ok, a LOT) about the things that God has been showing me lately.
I wish I was at liberty to share the details now, but then you guys would just go around saying that I had an "alien encounter" or something like that! In all seriousness, this encounter has nothing to do with UFOs and aliens, but everything to do with surrendering more and more of my life to His will and His way.
While I consider myself a guy who enjoys thinking and ministering "outside the box", this calling (not sure that is the best description) has caused me to reconsider the DNA of "the box" itself. In other words, I'm not certain that I have shared God's perspective of what biblical ministry looks like. It's certainly been a time of stretching and surrendering for me to consider that my ministry has been shaped far more by my own ideas, conceptions, and experiences than by divine instruction and total (seemingly foolish) surrender to the word of God and the will of God.
Some would make the point that God's hand has obviously been on the ministry of Skipstone, so how could I possibly raise this question. Others would say that we should just be thankful and content with what God has done and rest in that. I am the first to shout praises for God's blessings on Skipstone and thankfulness for allowing me to be a part of it. I agree that He has been faithful and that it's obvious that His hand is on the ministry here. I'm also the first to admit that what has happened has been in spite of, not because of, us!
The question is "would this ministry look any different if I surrendered everything I thought I knew about what ministry should look like? What if I focused on surrendering "the box" as opposed to ministering "outside the box"?"
For the first time in my life, I feel as though God is calling me to do something that "I HAVE to do" instead of something that "I WANT to do". My ramblings certainly can't describe all of the feelings that come with that realization!
I am asking those who love me to walk down this road with me. Pray for spiritual eyes and ears for me to be able to discern exactly what God would have me to know and to do. Pray for my heart to be open and receptive to every prompting of the Holy Spirit. Pray for obedient hands and feet to move at His command. Pray for a hedge of protection around my life and for faith that is not so easily intimidated by fear and doubt. Most importantly, pray for a posture of complete surrender for me.
"He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light. But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living." Job 28:11-13
Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody
In recent weeks, God has allowed some things to pop up on my spiritual radar that have been the equivalent of a "UFO" experience for me. I know.... it makes me just as nervous to write that as it makes you to read it. I'm not going off the deep end (I hope) and I haven't seen a UFO, but I am stunned, shaken up, perplexed, and honestly a little apprehensive (ok, a LOT) about the things that God has been showing me lately.
I wish I was at liberty to share the details now, but then you guys would just go around saying that I had an "alien encounter" or something like that! In all seriousness, this encounter has nothing to do with UFOs and aliens, but everything to do with surrendering more and more of my life to His will and His way.
While I consider myself a guy who enjoys thinking and ministering "outside the box", this calling (not sure that is the best description) has caused me to reconsider the DNA of "the box" itself. In other words, I'm not certain that I have shared God's perspective of what biblical ministry looks like. It's certainly been a time of stretching and surrendering for me to consider that my ministry has been shaped far more by my own ideas, conceptions, and experiences than by divine instruction and total (seemingly foolish) surrender to the word of God and the will of God.
Some would make the point that God's hand has obviously been on the ministry of Skipstone, so how could I possibly raise this question. Others would say that we should just be thankful and content with what God has done and rest in that. I am the first to shout praises for God's blessings on Skipstone and thankfulness for allowing me to be a part of it. I agree that He has been faithful and that it's obvious that His hand is on the ministry here. I'm also the first to admit that what has happened has been in spite of, not because of, us!
The question is "would this ministry look any different if I surrendered everything I thought I knew about what ministry should look like? What if I focused on surrendering "the box" as opposed to ministering "outside the box"?"
For the first time in my life, I feel as though God is calling me to do something that "I HAVE to do" instead of something that "I WANT to do". My ramblings certainly can't describe all of the feelings that come with that realization!
I am asking those who love me to walk down this road with me. Pray for spiritual eyes and ears for me to be able to discern exactly what God would have me to know and to do. Pray for my heart to be open and receptive to every prompting of the Holy Spirit. Pray for obedient hands and feet to move at His command. Pray for a hedge of protection around my life and for faith that is not so easily intimidated by fear and doubt. Most importantly, pray for a posture of complete surrender for me.
"He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light. But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living." Job 28:11-13
Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody
Friday, January 22, 2010
I Am Your Problem
HE is not your problem, I am. SHE is not your problem, I am. THEY are not your problem, I am. IT is not your problem, I am. My name is FLESH and I am your problem. I demand all of your attention. I can never be satisfied. I have my rights. I live for pleasure and despise pain. I refuse to be quiet. I am demanding, impatient, and controlling. I am not intimidated by anything..... except the power of the Holy Spirit, which forever fights for my territory and for the throne of my kingdom. Make no mistake, I am no stranger to war and I will not retreat quietly. My strategy is simple..... seemingly insignificant battles in which my adversary finds it easier to surrender than to fight. The more territory I gain, the harder it will be for anyone to defeat me. I am flanked by my allies of sin and fear, but my name is FLESH and I am your problem. If you plan to battle me, you'd best not come alone!
Chip Moody
Chip Moody
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Ministry Without The Master
I am blessed(and often overwhelmed)to wear many different hats in the course of each day..... husband, father, friend, neighbor, servant leader, decision maker, bus driver, consultant, project manager, etc. just to name a few. There are days that I love my calling and days that I loathe it, but one thing remains true..... ministry without the Master is madness!
I wish I could say that the only reason I know what ministry without the Master is like is because of the last book I read or because I know somebody who knew somebody that tried it. I would love to be able to say of myself that I've never attempted to do God's work apart from His wisdom and power, but I've done plenty of "ministry" powered solely by my flesh.
In recent weeks, I've found myself once again struggling with burnout and fatigue. I've prayed, cried, searched His word, and tried with everything in me to "not become weary in well-doing" as Galations 6:9 says.
Interestingly enough, while studying Galations 6, more specifically verse 9 which says "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.", my eyes and heart were drawn up the page to what I consider a profound discovery and the prescription for not becoming weary in our work. In verses 7 & 8, we read "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
So what's the profound discovery for me? What's the secret to not becoming weary in our work? It's our daily choice..... which garden will we spend our time in today? Will we weed and fertilize the flesh in an effort to please our sinful nature or will we spend our time strategically tending to our Spirit man, doing everything possible to make our lives fertile ground in which God can grow His spirit in us?
There is a similar story found in John 15 that paints the picture a branch trying to be fruitful apart from the vine. We all know that dead branches don't bear any fruit don't we? Since that's true, what makes us think that we are the exception? Are we so arrogant or naive as to think that our dead branch is somehow different from that really dead dead branch that belongs to someone else. Have we decorated our dead branch with creativity, religion, or goodness in an effort to somehow outsmart the law of the harvest?
The revelation for me is that a branch that is bearing fruit is much harder to burn up than an old dead branch. I remember when we burned some underbrush here a Skipstone a couple of years ago. It was amazing to watch those roaring fires consume piles of dead debris that had accumulated for years. Equally amazing was witnessing those vibrant hardwoods still standing in the midst of the smoke and soot with hardly any evidence that the fire just roared by.
I think the key is tend to the Spirit man in such a way that my life is a vibrant branch that is yielding fruit and therefore less intimidated by the fire.
Ministry without the Master... trust me, it's MADNESS!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
I wish I could say that the only reason I know what ministry without the Master is like is because of the last book I read or because I know somebody who knew somebody that tried it. I would love to be able to say of myself that I've never attempted to do God's work apart from His wisdom and power, but I've done plenty of "ministry" powered solely by my flesh.
In recent weeks, I've found myself once again struggling with burnout and fatigue. I've prayed, cried, searched His word, and tried with everything in me to "not become weary in well-doing" as Galations 6:9 says.
Interestingly enough, while studying Galations 6, more specifically verse 9 which says "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.", my eyes and heart were drawn up the page to what I consider a profound discovery and the prescription for not becoming weary in our work. In verses 7 & 8, we read "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
So what's the profound discovery for me? What's the secret to not becoming weary in our work? It's our daily choice..... which garden will we spend our time in today? Will we weed and fertilize the flesh in an effort to please our sinful nature or will we spend our time strategically tending to our Spirit man, doing everything possible to make our lives fertile ground in which God can grow His spirit in us?
There is a similar story found in John 15 that paints the picture a branch trying to be fruitful apart from the vine. We all know that dead branches don't bear any fruit don't we? Since that's true, what makes us think that we are the exception? Are we so arrogant or naive as to think that our dead branch is somehow different from that really dead dead branch that belongs to someone else. Have we decorated our dead branch with creativity, religion, or goodness in an effort to somehow outsmart the law of the harvest?
The revelation for me is that a branch that is bearing fruit is much harder to burn up than an old dead branch. I remember when we burned some underbrush here a Skipstone a couple of years ago. It was amazing to watch those roaring fires consume piles of dead debris that had accumulated for years. Equally amazing was witnessing those vibrant hardwoods still standing in the midst of the smoke and soot with hardly any evidence that the fire just roared by.
I think the key is tend to the Spirit man in such a way that my life is a vibrant branch that is yielding fruit and therefore less intimidated by the fire.
Ministry without the Master... trust me, it's MADNESS!
Whatever It Takes,
Chip
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Skipstone Needs Your Support!
Chip Moody SKIPSTONE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT! As many of you have personally experienced, the ministry of Skipstone has continued to strengthen since our "birth" in 2007 and we have been blessed to minister to hundreds of students and their families throug...h the Academy and through our Summer Camps. On Tuesday, October 27th at 7:00pm, the Spalding County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to discuss our application for rezoning from R-1 to AR-1. This decision will directly impact our ability to continue with the vision for Skipstone, specifically the addition of any new buildings. While our exisiting structures and operations have been "grand-fathered in", the county will not allow any new construction unless the rezoning application is approved. This will be the first of three public hearings... the Planning Commision on Oct. 27th, the Board of Appeals on Nov. 12th, and the Spalding Co. Commissioners on Nov. 16th. We would be so grateful to our friends and supporters of Skipstone for your presence and support at these meetings. If you have any questions about our application or need any information about how and why we are going through the process, PLEASE contact me directly at chipmoody@bellsouth.net and I will do my best to answer any questions. We want to be sure that everyone has accurate information on which to make their decisions. Thank you so much for your love and support of the ministry of Skipstone! We look forward to serving our community for many years to come!
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